Thwaite joins A-League All Stars

The flow on effects are very vaguely expressed. For a bunch of blokes/gals who love metrics on this site so much, u all have a bit of a blind spot on this one. I appreciate the knock on effect economic arguments. Of course its not for ticket sales or anything. And an all star game is not an F1 gp ...although a fraction of the price...these games are a dime a dozen every off season. The local economy stimulative effects can be easily exaggerated...pollies love to be seen along sports stars. I think it is politically stimulatory more than anything;)

I agree. At the end of the 3 year TV deal on the All Stars, I would run the entire Cup (G32 onwards) in winter and then let the winner play last year's A-League Champion in a 'Champions Cup' game to farewell the community season, raise a few bob, fill out the calendar, offer another trophy and kick off the A-League season. All in one fell swoop. We give up Australia Day Cup final - but that is working fine with the two big intra-city derbies. Leave the international club friendlies to clubs like MVFC, WSW, SFC and Heart in the future where the business case is solid (i.e. large, popular, Euro teams). Alternatively, clubs can come together to organise annual mini-tournaments against Euro oppositions like we are seeing at the moment and will see next year when the ICC Cup is here (if confirmed). It is critical to keep the winter busy with high profile football. FFA Cup (tournament), Champions Cup (event) and Euro club/tourney (tours) will be plenty. It will always be critical, but is even more so for the next two years - because the end of that period will coincide with the commencement of the next TV rights negotiations. The FFA needs the revenue and football has to leverage its 24/7 advantage and keep its foot on the throat of NRL/AFL. This is where some of the growth will come from.

and left at 3/4 time against the Men's National Team :) Disgrace and we should never stoop to European clubs in that way again. Ever. Period.

Couldn't care less about impressions (they are often not reality). I just look at what the FFA have to juggle for some pretty specific reasons this year and I go - meh - fair enough. It'll be better after the Asian Cup when the calendar settles down into something 'normal'.

1. FFA Cup not scheduled when 3 year contract for All Stars game was done with C7. 2. Perth less effected by All Stars call ups than some others. 3. Calender conflicts largely a function of football's success in getting the FFA Cup up at a time when there was a World Cup and the Asia Cup had already put pressure on the calendar. It will settle down after the Asia Cup / ICC Cup ends next year. 4. Thwaite cannot be allowed to play FA Cup and get an 'injury' and be unavailable for the All Stars, because he is already the 'back p' defender. 5. Hypocrites slammed the FFA for not protecting the All Star game from the EAF Cup and mystery last minute injuries and absent marquees last year. 6. Harden the fcuk up.

Yes, the AC Milan side look like they were one of the best to tour Australia in the past 22 years. Better than this current Juventus squad? I can't answer. We'll need someone who was more familiar with the AC Milan side in 1993. The AC Milan Starting XI in the 1993 European Cup Finale included these 3 superstars, who didn't make the trip to Australia: Paolo Maldini, Frank Rijkaard, Marco van Basten The Starting XI for the 1994 AC Milan team that won the UCL, the following players, who didn't make the trip to Australia: Paolo Maldini, Christian Panucci, Marcel Desailly, Dejan Savicevic

They became European Champs in 1994 by demolishing Barca in the final 4-0. (and loss the 1993 final 1-0) They would have to be included as one of the best touring squads to visit Australia.

I remember the 1993 tour, but didn't attend the Melbourne match & cannot recall anything about either of the matches SFS (Sydney), or Princes Park (Melbourne). AC Milan squad: Mauro Tassotti, Alessandro Costacurta, Demetrio Albertini, Frano Baresi, Roberto Donadoni, Zvonimir Boban, Fernando de Napoli, Jean-Pierre Papin Sebastiano Rossi, Stefano Eranio, Stefano Navo, Filippo Galli, Alberigo Evani, Daniele Massaro, Gianluigi Lentini, Mario Ielpo My knowledge of AC Milan from that era is very limited - basically, I can only vouch for the players from the 1st group.

I did say: best to have visited for past 10 years. For past 30-40 years, I'd need to pause & reflect (and research). For past 40-60 years ... I'd need jbinnie's input. :-)

You're losing me, Nordster. State govts don't back these events because the event itself makes big bucks. They back them for the flow on effect re tourism and global corporate interest. I'm certain the F1 Grand Prix loses a ton of money every year but the stature of the event puts Melbourne in the headlines around the world for that weekend. I know NSW were desperate to get a hold of it but lost out to VIC.

And how exactly do these tours boost stamp duty revenue state govt is dependent on? By making the state look like a nice place to live for foreigners who will come here and buy property, push up prices and lift stamp duty. Perhaps... Wait till they get here and start a business lol...red tape alert!!! I have the beginnings of a thesis there, but alas i have to walk the dog before work ;)

Cheers AZ :) i am somewhat familiar with the original article that is based on hehe... I like that From the Stands site. Some of these guys are coming along nicely. Nothing wrong with a bit of rewriting provided it is attributed and Hyperlinked. Albeit i think that ones behind the paywall in the metadata;) Fuss wrote..."If you don’t think State Governments profit from such events, you should write a research paper that substantiates your theory about the myth of financial benefits flowing from major events; and deliver this research paper to your State MP in NSW." Haha whole lot of good that will do. Teams of well connected consultants with a vested interest in keeping the racket going will always sound more plausible than me. There is a ceiling in a sense on what effect the Austrian school, deregulatory mindset can have due to this fact. :) And im not missing that point i totally accept it. Read my post as close as i read yours, please hehe. Over time the (potential) mega clubs could become more equal partners in these tours. All stars serve an interim purpose but imo will get in the way. Along with....drumroll...egalitarianism:)

You seem to miss the basic point. These matches run at a loss. The NSW State Government, in recent years, has demonstrated that it considers major sporting events to be a significant part of their "Destination NSW" strategy. The NSW Govt's vision is "To make Sydney and NSW one of the world’s most successful tourism and events destinations." They will do this by: "acquiring and developing major sporting and cultural events for Sydney and regional NSW." No private enterprise (HAL club, events promoter, etc.) can directly - & indirectly - profit from the financial benefits that flow from increased tourism & like the State Government. If you don't think State Governments profit from such events, you should write a research paper that substantiates your theory about the myth of financial benefits flowing from major events; and deliver this research paper to your State MP in NSW.

http://www.fromthestandsal.com/2014/05/05/ffa-hits-league-clubs-250000-fee-exhibition-matches/ - Nordster you might enjoy this article.

What about AC Milan's squad in the 90's that came to our shores?

So the only way to host these teams is to have someone subsidise them, or the touring clubs lower their expectations a little? How long are the state govts going to be willing to contribute to the tab? (How much time do the 'economic contribution' theories that underpin them have before being swept away as fairly subjective and self serving for pollies keen for tickets and schmoozing?) Just throwing this in there from my outsider perspective;) ...do the clubs coming here or the people on their end booking them, know that the state governments can be squeezed for a subsidy and negotiate accordingly. Could be having an inflationary effect on what they expect to get out of it. The promoters in the past have been left to carry the can and wont go near these tours now for the large part. So i can see your point as to why ffa are stepping in. But its really only viable by passing around the tin to other subsidising parties, largely govt. That'll dry up in time perhaps as well and back to square one... If we had more unrestrained super clubs in the future, maybe the giants of australian football like MV and WSW will be in a position to subsidise some of this. Or leverage more sponsorship and commercial deals if these participation agreements and regulations in general are freed up. We need to start to view our own potential mega clubs more like what they should be....striving to be an equivalent to the euro powerhouses some day. Having these euro teams play all star 'concepts' may get in the way of that process. Along with the egalitarian mindset of course, hehe.

Hmm....yeah I would say that Juve squad is fair bit stronger. Juve have been incredible to watch over the last couple of seasons. They've truly become what the other big teams in Italy should be thriving for. They own their own stadium which they pack almost every game which gives them great financial stability. They play a good brand of football with talented technical players throughout. This off season has been a bit of a disaster so far due to the Conte dramas but Juve are a resilient club. Their failings in the UCL are similarly disappointing but if they can hold on to their current talent, they might see themselves in the final 8 or 4 this season. Their often volatile ultras have also stayed in line.

I well remember Juventus playing MVFC at Docklands. From what I recall, that tour made a massive financial loss for the promoter. In fact, from what I've heard, the majority of matches against club sides have made massive losses for promoters ... Liverpool & LA Galaxy are the obvious exceptions. The recent Malaga tour was underwritten by the Spanish football league.

I went to the match in Melbourne, but relying on Google for the data: GKs: Mark Bosnich, Raimond van der Gouw Defenders: Phil Neville, Denis Irwin, Henning Berg, Jaap Stam, Mark Wilson, John Curtis, Wes Brown, Michael Clegg, David May, Midfielders: Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Jordi Cruijff, Jonathan Greening, Jesper Blomqvist Forwards: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham So, no: Roy Keane, Gary Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes .. 40% of ManU's best outfield XI in 1999. (Schmeichel had departed ManU after the UCL win)

Juve were previously willing to visit to play MV. Maybe they prefer to play these 'all star' teams as they know it is an easier run, more of a carnival event less likely to strain their players. Scared of being beaten, like CCM did to Celtic...bad for their brand. If they lose to an all star team, less embarrassment and less likely to altogether given they are not a cohesive, drilled team. So that would make them more likely to want to face all stars, yes i agree there hehe. The marketing, underwriting and managing is a good point. Made all the more difficult for the clubs to do given the conditions the FFA now place on clubs booking tours :) ...you would know the details of that more than me being an insider, will cede to your superior perspective;) ...but no doubt designed to dissuade them from going after the teams ffa want for the all star 'concept'. The main advantage in the all star approach is its easier for ffa to lobby the state government for tax payer handout and subsidy. I will grant u that absolutely. They are much much more adept at greasing those wheels at ffa. I guess if everyone else is doing it, may as well!